PITTSBURGH, PA, March 23, 2010 – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation announced the winners of its Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship from the Fred Forward Conference in Pittsburgh last night. The Scholarship program is dedicated to the legacy of Fred Rogers, whose influence on children’s media through his long-running “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” is unparalleled. Fred Rogers’ wife, Joanne Rogers, Television Academy Foundation Executive Director Terri Clark, and Ernst & Young Partner Lynette Horrell presented the awards at a reception honoring the students.
Christina Zagarino, Rachel Schechter and Xavier Raphael Vanegas are each being recognized with $10,000 Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarships for their innovative ideas and dedication to the education and development of children through media. In addition to the monetary award, both will be assigned a mentor from the Television Academy's Children's Programming Group who will work with them during the academic year.
“The recipients of the Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarships represent the future of children’s media,” said Television Academy Foundation Executive Director Terri Clark. “The Television Academy Foundation is proud to honor these students, who will be torchbearers of the Fred Rogers legacy by improving the quality of educational programming for children.”
The Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship is rooted in the values that “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” embodied. The daily children's television program celebrated imagination and play, explored children's feelings and sense of self-worth, and treated young viewers with love and respect. “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood” remains the gold standard of how television can enlighten, educate and increase social consciousness and understanding.
“Ernst & Young has been thrilled to be involved with the Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship since its inception,” said Lynette Horrell, managing partner of Ernst & Young’s Pittsburgh office. “The program fits who we are as a firm, and reflects our strong commitment to the education and mentoring of today’s youth. We share the Television Academy Foundation’s vision of and commitment to public broadcasting and quality television for children and look forward to seeing the contributions of the award recipients.”
This will be the sixth year that the Television Academy Foundation has awarded Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarships to deserving college students. The monetary award is made possible by the generous underwriting by Ernst & Young.
Zagarino is earning a Master’s in Child Development at Tufts University and plans to use the scholarship to produce 3 to 5-minute interstitials to encourage viewers to participate in physical activity and address childhood obesity during media breaks. Schechter, who also hails from Tufts University and is working toward a PhD in Child Development, plans to research the relationship between children’s use of media and learning. Vanegas, who is at the University of Southern California earning a Master’s in Motion Picture Production, plans to develop “Fink Forest Friends,” an animated children’s program.
The Fred Forward Conference, put together by the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College, is taking place March 22 and 23 in Pittsburgh. The event brings together national leaders in education, research, technology, policy, and children’s media to explore how they can work together to use emerging technologies and new media in developmentally appropriate and educational ways.
About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation
Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation preserves and celebrates the history of the medium while educating and guiding those who will shape its future. Prominent among its many initiatives are the Archive of American Television, education programs such as the College Television Awards and its renowned student internship program, all of which utilize the resources of the Television Academy. For more information about the Foundation, its many programs and services, please visit www.emmysfoundation.org
About Ernst & Young
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